Pattern mechanism



A. 5. WINTER ET AL PATTERN MECHANISM Filed March 12, 1936 March 8, 1938.

2 I 3 I I i 26 -i' 46 45 f 44 3O 34 24 37 7 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/G. l3 3ALBERT 5. wiN'TER THOMAS :rAcK 0N March 8, 1938. A. 5. WINTER ET AL2,110,541

' PATTERN MECHANISM Filed March 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALBERTSWINBEAFIK wm oa Patented Mar. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE PATTERN MECHANISMAlbert Sydney Winter and Thomas Jackson, Spondon, near Derby, England,assignors to Celanesc Corporation of America, a corporation of DelawareApplication March 12, 1936, Serial No. 68,401

In Great Britain March 19, 1935 12 Claims.

This invention relates to pattern mechanisms and is particularlyconcerned with an improved form of pattern mechanism adapted to replacepattern wheels and like devices presenting an operating surface ofvarying radius, such as are employed, for example, in warp knittingmachines.

The pattern wheels on warp knitting machines are used for imparting tothe thread guides the movements endwise with respect to the machine thatare necessary to produce the desired pattern in the fabric. The wheelsare generally of large diameter and have a periphery whose radius variesin steps so as to give, be-

tween adjacent steps, a dwell during which the guides may move at rightangles to thelength of the machine, and knitting may take place. Therange of variation of the radius of such a wheel is equal (in steps) tothe total range of needles (e. g. 40 needles) over which the guides arerequired to be moved according to the pattern.

- Since the wheel is rotated through the same count of operatingdiiiiculties and yet, when the height of the steps is large and theradius of the wheel comparatively small, must'still be short enough topermit the provision of a dwell between adjacent steps. This limits thepossible range of variation of radius, and in consequence,

limits the scope of patterning obtainable. Moreover, when large patternsare to be produced the wheel required is correspondingly large andoperating difficulties with large pattern wheels prevent the use ofpatterns of more than a certain length.

Another form of patterning mechanism, which is generally used as atemporary expedient in trying out patterns, comprises a chain of linksof varying height which passes round a drum, and is supported thereby atthe working point. This expedient, however. introduces furtherdifficulties, since the looseness inherent in the chain construction isapt to introduce wear in the links and corresponding inaccuracies.Moreover, the links must be curved to fit the drum, and must be ofvarying height, as a result of which diiilculties occur similar to thosearising from the varying radii of the pattern wheels referred to above.

According to the present invention a pattern mechanism comprises aseries of straight pattern pieces of varying heights which are adaptedto be passed successively in engagement with connecting means fordriving controlled elements, for example the thread guides of a warpknitting machine. The pattern pieces may conveniently be mounted upon achain or flexible band, or connected together in the form of a chain,and engaged by the connecting means at a point in a straight run of thechain or band. Since, according to the invention, the pattern pieces arestraight, and not curved like the periphery of a pattern wheel or'thelinks of a chain passing round a pattern drum, the difliculties inconstruction and operation arising from such curvature are avoided.

Conveniently the pattern pieces may be of substantial length and eithersecured to each other at their ends, or secured to the chain or band attheir mid-points. Each pattern piece may be built up of a number ofunits, each unit repre senting a stage in the pattern. In this way froma stock of units of different total heights and of different heights ofstep the pattern pieces for any desired pattern may quickly be built up.

By way of example two forms of pattern mechanism according to thepresent invention will now be described in greater detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, the specific mechanisms being particularlydesigned for use in connection with warp knitting machines. It is to beunderstood, however, that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to warp knitting machines,.but may be applied to other formsof knitting machines and, indeed, to machines of entirely diiierenttype.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the mechanismaccording to the invention applied to the end frame of a warp knittingmachine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in-part section of the mechanism shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of an alternative form of apparatus;

ers 5 and presser 6 of the machine are shown at the right-hand side ofFig. 1, mounted respectively upon the needle bar I, the guide bar 8, thesinker bar 9 and presser bar ID. The present invention is concerned withthe operation of the guides 4 by the longitudinal reciprocation of theguide bar 8. g

The guide bar 8 is connected by means of suitable flexible connectionsI2 to a quadrant l3, pivoted at the point l4 on the bracket I. A springI5 is provided to'maintain the connection |2 between the guide bar 8 andthe quadrant |3. The quadrant |3 carries a cam bowl l6 mounted on abracket H. A screw l8 secured to the quadrant 3 passes through a portionof the bracket l1 and carries two nuts H! by means of which the positionof the bracket l1, and consequently of the cam bowl |6 relative to thequadrant l3, may be adjusted.

The cam bowl I6 is acted upon by pattern units 20 which are mounted onpattern piece members 2|, of which one is shown without the patternunits 20 towards the bottom of Fig. 1. The pattern units 20 are securedto the members 2| in a manner shown more clearly in Fig. 2, in whichplates 23, 24 are shown, mounted on the members 2|, the said platesoverlapping flanges 25 provided at the'bottom of each of the patternunits 29. The plates 24 are fixed in position by means of nuts 26 whichpass through slots in the plates-24, so that the lateral position of theplates can be adjusted, and the pattern units 20 held firmly. Thepattern units are also secured in place by means of pins 21, two ofwhich are carried on each of the members 2| as shown in Fig. 1. The pins21 fit into dowel holes 28 in the pattern units, each unit beingprovided with such a dowel hole, although of the four units mounted oneach of the members 2| only two have pins 21 entering them.

The members 2| are carried at equal intervals upon a pair of chains 29,an extension 30 below each of the pattern piece members 2| lying betweenthe chains, and being held by means of long pins 3| which extend fromone chain to the other. Each of the extensions 30 has two such pinspassing through it, one at each end of a link of the chain, so thatalthough the members 2| are held parallel to the chains, the flexibilityof the chains is in no way impaired.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, two sets of pattern pieces 20 and members 2|are provided for the operation of two guide bars 8, so that it isnecessary to providefour chains 29. Each of the chains 29 passes roundthree sprockets 32, 33,34, the sprockets 32 and 33 being carried onshafts 35, 36 on the bracket I, while the sprockets 34 are carried on ashaft 31 mounted in brackets 38 slidably secured to rods 39 attached tobrackets 40 secured to the machine frame 2. By these means the height ofthe shaft 31 and the sprockets 34 can be adjusted as desired, and anylength of chain 29, according to the length of pattern required, can beaccommodated. The shaft 35 carrying the sprockets 32 is driven from themain drive or cam shaft 4| of the warp knitting machine. For thispurpose a spur gear 42 on the cam shaft 4| drives the spur gear 43mounted on a shaft 44 in a bearing 45 carried by the bracket The shaft44 also carries a worm 46 engaging with a worm wheel 41 secured to theshaft 35.

By these means the chains 29 and the pattern pieces 29 are driven intimed relation with the knitting elements 3, 4, 5 and 6. Any smalladjustments in timing may be made by shifting the point of engagement ofthe cam bowl |6 by means of the nuts IS on the screw l8. The bracket issecured to the machine frame by means of bolts 48, and carries extensionstrips 49 for the securing of a spring 59 adapted to hold back thequadrant l3 so that the cam bowl I6 is kept in engagement with thepattern units 20.

In operation the rotation of the cam shaft 4| of the warp knittingmachine drives the sprocket 32 through the gears 42, 43, 46, 41 andconsequently' drives all the chains 29. This brings each of the members2| in turn under the cam bowl Hi, the members 2| being supported frombeneath by means of an abutment 5| carried on the bracket I. Each of themembers 2| as it passes round the sprocket 33 comes smoothly intoalignment with the preceding piece '2| before it reaches the cam bowlI6, so that the cam bowl H5 is steadily operated in the desired manner.The pattern units 28 constitute standard stock, being of variousheights, and having at their mid-point steps of varying heights, but arein other respects similar to each other, and therefore interchangeableand reversible. A pattern can be built up of any desired number ofpattern piece members 2| carrying the requisite pattern units 20, achain 29 of suitable length being provided, while the sprocket 34 isadjusted to a suitable level by shifting the brackets 38 up or down onthe rods 39.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 to 6 the pattern units 20 aremounted on pattern piece members 52 of different form from the members2| in Figs. 1 and 2, although the manner of the attachment of thepattern units 20 to the members 52 is similar to that described withreference to the members 2| in Figs. 1 and 2. The members 52 areprovided with straight rigid teeth 53 on their under sides, and aredriven by means of two gears 54, 55 mounted on shafts 56, 51 carried ina bracket 58 of slightly different shape from the bracket of Figs. 1 and2. The shaft 56 is driven from the main shaft 4| of the loom by means ofgears 42, 43, 46 and 41 in the same way as the shaft 35 described withreference to Figs. 1 and 2. The gear 55 is driven from the gear 54 bymeans of an intermediate idler gear 59 carried in bearings 60 in thebracket 58. Abutments 5| are provided on the bracket 58, as in Figs. 1and 2, to support the members 52 and the pattern units 20 thereon asthey pass under the cam bowl I6. Along the remainder of their path themembers 52 are guided by means of rollers 6| carried by the bracket 53,or hang freely below the bracket.

The successive members 52 are connected di? rectly to each other to forma chain in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in which it will beseen that a tongue 63 at one end of each member 52 fits into a slot atthe other end of the other member 52 and is secured by means of a pin64. As in Fig. 1, two pattern chains comprising members 52 and patternunits 20 are shown for the operation of two guide bars 8 the two chainsbeing driven by the common shaft 56. By the employment of themodification shown in Figs. 3 to 6 the use of a chain 29 is avoided.

Having described our invention what we desire to secure by LettersPatent is:-

1. A pattern mechanism for actuating controlled elements in apredetermined manner, comprising a series of straight pattern piecemembers, means for guiding said series along a path including a straightrun, a plurality of pattern units detachably mounted on each of saidmembers and building up thereon a working surface of varying height soas to present a continuous unbroken pieces to pass successively intooperative engagesurface along said straight run, connecting means foractuating the controlled elements and means for passing said patternpiece members successively into operative engagement with saidconnecting means in the course of said straight run, whereby-saidconnecting means and the elements controlled thereby are moved by thevarying height of said working surface.

2. A warp knitting machine, comprising at least one guide bar capable oflongitudinal movements, a series of guides mounted thereon, a series ofstraight pattern piece members, means for guiding said series along apath including a straight run, a plurality of pattern units detachablymounted on each of said members and building up thereon a workingsurface of varying height so as to present a continuous unbroken surfacealong said straight run, connecting means for actuating the said guidebar and means for passing said pattern piece members successively intooperative engagement with said connecting means in the course of saidstraight run, whereby said guide bar is moved longitudinally at eachchange of height of said working surface.

3. A pattern mechanism for actuating controlled elements in. apredetermined manner, comprising a series of straight pattern piecemembers, means for guiding said series along a path including a straightrun, .dowel, pins upon said members, a plurality of pattern unitsmounted on each of said members and building up thereon a workingsurface of varying height so asto present a continuous unbroken. surfacealong said straight run, said pattern units being provided with dowelholes so as to be held in place by said dowel pins, connecting means foractuating the controlled elements and means for passing said patternpiece members successively into operative engagement with saidconnecting means in the course of said straight run, whereby saidconnecting means and the elements controlled thereby are moved by thevarying height of said Working surface.

4. A pattern mechanism for actuating controlled elements in apredetermined manner, comprising a series of straight pattern piecemembers, means for guiding said series along a path including a straightrun, a plurality of pattern units detachabiy mounted on each of saidmembers and building up thereon a working surface of varying height soas to present a continuous unbroken surface along said straight run,abutments having plane surfaces adapted to support said pattern piecemembers in the course of said straight run, connecting means foractuating the controlled elements and means for pass-1 ing said patternpiece members successively into operative engagement with saidconnecting means between said connecting means and said abutments,whereby said connecting means and the elements controlled thereby aremoved by the varying height of said working surface.

5. A pattern mechanism for actuating controlled elements in apredetermined manner, comprising a chain, a series of straight patternpieces mounted on said chain, means for guiding said chain along a pathincluding a straight run, a plurality of pattern units detachablymounted on each of said members and building up thereon a workingsurface of varying height so as to present a continuous unbroken surfacealong said straight run, connecting means for actuating the controlledelements, a plurality of sprockets adapted to carry said chain, andmeans for driving said sprockets so as to cause said pattern meat withsaid connecting means in the course of said straight run, whereby saidconnecting means and the elementscontrolled thereby are moved by thevarying height of said working surface.

6. A pattern mechanism for actuating controlled elements in. apredetermined .manner, comprising a series of straight pattern piecemembers connected together end to end to form an endless chain, meansfor guiding said chain along a path including a straight run, rack teethon one face of each of said pattern piece membersya plurality of patternunits on the other face of each of said pattern piece members, saidunits building up thereon a working surface of varying height so as topresent a continuous unbroken surface along said straight run,connecting means for actuating the controlled elements, at least onegear adapted to engage the rack teeth on said pattern piece members, andmeans for driving said gear so as to cause said pattern piece members topass successively into operative engagement with said connecting meansin the course of said straight run, whereby said connecting means andthe elements controlled thereby are moved by the varying height of saidworking surface.

7. A pattern mechanism for actuating controlled elements in apredetermined manner, comprising a series of straight pattern piecemembers connected together end to end to form an endless chain, a seriesof rollers adapted to guide said chain along-a path including a straightrun, rack teeth on one face of each of said pattern'piece members, aplurality of pattern units on the other face/of each of said patternpiece members,

said units buildingup thereon a working surface of varying height so asto present a continuous unbroken surface along said straight run,connecting means for actuating the controlled elements, at least onegear adapted to engage the rack teeth on said pattern piece members,means for driving said gear so as to cause said pattern piece members topass successively into operative engagement with said connecting meansin the course of said run, whereby said connecting means and theelements controlled thereby are moved by the varying height of saidworking surface, said rollers being adapted to bring each pattern piecemember into alignment with the preceding pattern piece member while saidpreceding member is engaged by said connecting means.

8. A pattern piece mechanism for actuating controlled elements in apredetermined manner, comprising a series of straight pattern piecemembers, a pair of endless chains together adapted to carry said patternpiece members, means for guiding said chains along a path including astraight run, a plurality of pattern units detachably mounted on each ofsaid pattern piece members, saidunits building up a working surface ofvarying height so as to present a continuous unbroken surface along saidstraight run, abutments having plane surfaces for supporting saidpattern piece members in the course of said straight run, connectingmeans for actuating the controlled elements, a plurality of sprocketsadapted to carry said chains and means for driving at least one of saidsprockets so as to cause said pattern piece members to pass successivelymeans between said connecting means and said abutments, whereby saidconnecting means and each of said pattern piece members, said unitsbuilding up a workingsurface of varying height so as to present acontinuous unbroken surface along said straight run, abutments havingplane surfaces for supporting said pattern piece members in the courseof said straight run, connecting means for actuating said guide bar, aplurality of sprockets adapted to carry said chains and means fordriving at least one of said sprockets so as to cause said pattern piecemembers to pass successively into operative engagement with saidconnecting means between said connecting means and said abutments,whereby said guide bar is moved longitudinally at each change of heightof said working surface.

10. A pattern mechanism for actuating controlled elements in apredetermined manner,

comprising a series of straight pattern piece members connected togetherend to end to form an endless chain, means for guiding said chain alonga path including a straight run, said pattern piece members having rackteeth on one face thereof, a plurality of pattern units on the otherface of each of said members, said units building up a working surfaceof varying height so as to present a continuous unbroken surface alongsaid straight run, abutments having plane surfaces for supporting saidpattern piece members in the course of said straight run, connectingmeans for actuating the controlled elements, at least one gear adaptedto engage said rack teeth, and means for driving said gear so as tocause said pattern piece members to pass successively into operativeengagement with said connecting means between said connecting means andsaid abutments, whereby said connecting means and the elementscontrolled thereby are moved by the varying height of said workingsurface.

11. A warp knitting machine comprising at least one guide bar, a seriesof guides mounted on said guide bar, a series of straight pattern piecemembers connected together end to end to form an endless chain, meansfor guiding said chain along a path including a straight run, saidpattern piece members having rack teeth on one face thereof, a pluralityof pattern units on the other face of each of said members, said unitsbuilding up a working surface of varying height so as to present acontinuous unbroken surface along said straight run, abutments havingplane surfaces for supporting said pattern piece members in the courseof said straight run, connecting-means for actuating the said guide barlongitudinally, at least one gear adapted to engage said rack teeth, andmeans for driving said gear so as to cause said pattern piece members topass successively into operative engagement with said connecting meansbetween said connecting means and said abutments, whereby said guide baris moved longitudinally at each change in height of said workingsurface.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a jockey pulley adaptedto guide the series of the straight pattern piece members, and means foradjusting said pulley so as to allow for series of different lengths.

ALBERT SYDNEY WINTER. THOMAS JACKSON.

